Collection ID: C504
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Mathers, Frank C. (Frank Curry), 1881-1973
Abstract:
Frank Curry Mathers was a Chemistry Professor at Indiana University from 1907 until his retirement in 1950. This collection consists of materials associated with both the Mathers family and Frank C. Mathers' career as a Professor of Chemistry at I.U. The collection consists of Mathers' work correspondence, notes, journals, chemistry equations and formulas. The collection also contains Mathers family correspondence, photos, skin cancer research, and various family legal documents.
Extent:
22 cubic feet (24 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Frank Curry Mathers papers, Collection C504, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Frank Curry Mathers was born February 11, 1881 in Monroe County, Indiana to parents John Thomas and Elizabeth (Bonsall) Mathers. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1899 and went on to attend Indiana University, graduating with an AB in Chemistry in 1903 and an AM in 1905. Mathers then attended Cornell University and graduated with his PhD in 1907. On July 11, 1911 Frank married Maude (Bowser); together they raised two sons: Thomas Nesbit Mathers and William Hammond Mathers.

Mathers began as an Instructor in Chemistry at Indiana University in 1903. After receiving his PhD, Mathers returned to Indiana University as an Assistant Professor in 1907, becoming an Associate Professor in 1913, and receiving a full professorship in 1923. He served as Interim Chairman of the Department of Chemistry from July 1, 1946 to June 30, 1947. Mathers' primary research interest was in electrochemistry, especially electroplating, and he published prolifically, with over 100 research papers of his own authorship or co-authored with graduate students. He was an active member of the Electrochemical Society, including serving as President of the Society in 1940-1941. His most important discovery was a process for the preparation of fluorine gas by electrolysis using carbon anodes, discovered while working with the Chemical Warfare Service during the First World War. Upon his retirement from Indiana University in 1950, Mathers achieved the status of Professor Emeritus; the certificate and Emeritus Club pin can be found within this collection in the Indiana University series, Box 14. Dr. Mathers passed away on March 23, 1973.

Scope and Content:

The collection is organized into four series: Personal, Research, Indiana University Activities, and Business & Investments.

The Personal series is further organized into three subseries: Correspondence, Bibliographical, and Writings & Publications. The Correspondence subseries contains family correspondence dating back to the late 1850s. A majority of the material consists of Christmas cards from the 1960s and early 1970s. The Biographical subseries contains correspondence, drafts, and a final copy of F.C. Mathers' biography, as well as autobiographical writings, correspondence and newspaper clippings surrounding Mathers' retirement, memorial writings on the occasion of Mathers' death, and information concerning family history. The Writings & Publications subseries contains non-academic work written and collected by F.C. Mathers.

The Research series is organized into seven subseries: Correspondence, Journals, Notes, Samples, Publications, Patents, and Schoolwork. The correspondence regards obtainment of materials and discussion of methods with other chemists. The notes and journals include detailed chemistry equations, formulas, and experiments. The samples include physical objects and accompanying placards for display. The publications include both drafts and final copies of Mathers' work, as well as full and partial bibliographies. The patents subseries includes patent paperwork from applications to final copies for many of Mathers' U.S. patented discoveries. The schoolwork includes F.C. Mathers' school notebooks and exams from primary and secondary school, Indiana University, and Cornell University.

The Indiana University Activities series contains two subseries: Teaching and Institutional. The Teaching materials consist of notes and exam materials as well as student work and recommendations on behalf of former students. The Institutional subseries contains materials related to Mathers' official capacities as a member of the faculty at IU.

The Business & Investments series contains five subseries: Correspondence, Official & Legal Documents, Family documents, Investments, and Transactions & Receipts. The correspondence pertains to business and investment interests. Official and legal documents include deeds, leases and rental documents. The family documents contain deeds and receipts from F.C. Mathers' parents and other family members, dating as far back as the mid-1800s. The investments records include summary reports of stock dividends and property deprecation compiled by F.C. Mathers, as well as official documents. Transactions and receipts include official records of transactions.

Acquisition information:
Accessions: 0951, 0890, 0917, 2003/127
Appraisal information:

Two series, one of tax records and another of bills, were weeded and some material discarded. Summary documents and items relating to investments in these series were retained.

Custodial history:

Accessions 0951, 0890, and 0917 given by Thomas Nesbit Mathers; Accession 2003/127 transferred from Chemistry Department under care of Elizabeth Greene.

Processing information:

Processed by Elizabeth Peters and Rachel E. Hancock.

Completed in 2016

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into four series: Personal, Research, Indiana University Activities, and Business & Investments. Each series is further organized into subseries. Within each subseries, folders are arranged alphabetically.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Select files closed to researchers. These are indicated in the finding aid.

Advance notice required for access to collection.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University through a Deed of Gift. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Frank Curry Mathers papers, Collection C504, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu